Inking means for rotary printing apparatus



July 21, 1959 c. H. MAURICE, JR

INKING MEANS FOR ROTARY PRINTING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 5, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. CLAYTON H MAUR/CE JR BY I . ATTOR EYS July 21, 1959 c. H. MAURICE, JR

INKING MEANS FOR ROTARY PRINTING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 5, 1955 5- Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

CLAYTON H MAUR/CE JR 9/ BY ArroRA/ fs July 21, 1959 c. H. MAURICE, JR

INKING MEANS FOR ROTARY PRINTING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 5, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR CLAYTON H MAUR/CE JR.

' ATTORN S July 21, 1959 c. H. MAURICE, JR- 2,895,415

INKING MEANS FOR ROTARY PRINTING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 5, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN VEN TOR.

OLA YTO/X H MAUR/CE JR W AT OPNEY July 21, 1959 c. H. MAURICE, JR 2,895,415

7 INKING MEANS FOR ROTARY PRINTING APPARATUS I Filed Jan; 5., 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VEN TOR.

OLA Y T O/L/ H MAUFP/CE JR ATTOR EYS Unite lNKlNG MEANS FOR ROTARY PRINTING APPARATUS Application January: 5,1955, Serial No.. 480,026

5. Claims. (Cl. 101 -228) This-invention relates. to improved. rotary printing. apparatus-for printing successive labels on. a stripof paper.

Suchprintingapparatus .is used WhGITSlICCfiSSiVC labels mustbe-providedwith different information, e.g., in connection with the labeling of packaged meats in food stores. Each packagemustbe marked to indicate the typeoffood, weight, cost per pound, and total cost; Severallabels. may bear information as to the type of meat, e.g .,j Veal Steak, that must be changed for the next group of labels. Usually, the marking indicating the.type offood is made by label printing apparatus and themarkings indicating weight, cost per pound, and total cost..is accomplished by a. printing weighing scale in a subsequent operation.

The principal object of this invention: is to. provide, introtary. printing apparatus, improved means for adjnstinganinkroll with. respecttoa typecarrier. More specific objects. and advantagesnare. apparent: from the following description, in. which referenceis had tothe accompanying drawingsillustrating a preferred embodiment. of the invention:

Figurelis aperspective .view of the printing; apparatus for-labels. formed in. astrip .showing,.the. improved means for adjusting: theink ,.roll.

Figure .11 is a pfirspectiveviewof. a casezused-toenclose theprintingapparatusillustrated in..Figure I showing a strip.- oflabelsbeing-fed into theapparatus.

FigureJILisa perspectiveview of. the printing apparatus. shown in. Figure .I. looking. down upon the apparatus.

Figurelv is a vertical sectional. view. taken substan tially, along the-lineIV-IV of Figure III, parts being broken. away. and.. the type. carrier: and other adjuncts being omitted.

FigureV is. a. detailed and enlarged. sideelevational view. ofthe means for adjustingsthe; ink. roll. as viewed from. a. position. to. the. rear of the printing. apparatus illustrated. in Figural.

Figure..VI is. an end elevational. view of. the means for. adjustingtheink roll shown in FigurewV.

Figure. VII. isa: detailed. and. enlarged. plan View of. means for adjustingthe pawls.

Figure VIII. is. anelevationalrview of the device shown in.Fig..VII as..seen-. from the 1ine-.VlII--VIII- of Figure These specific. drawings. and the specific description that-follows merelydisclose andillustrate the, invention, andtare not intendedtoimposelimitations.uponthe claims.

Rotary'printing apparatus including improved: means for. adjusting an ink roll. with respect. toza. type, carrier embodying the. present invention. comprises. a. frame; a bed; supported by theframe for supporting; a stripof labels: to :be. printed; a. rotatable type carrier. carried by theeframe,.a..pressure= roller carriedby the: frameand cooperating with. thetypecarrier, .an. ink roll carried by the-frame and cooperating .withthetype carrier; rough adjustment means for swingingv the ink roll toward. and away from the type carrier, fine adjustment means for Patent "ice swinging-the ink. roll additionally; toward and away from the type carrier, means for. adjusting; the parallelism between the axis of the ink roll and the axis of the rotatable type carrier, pawl means actuated by the rotation of the typeycarrier for feeding successive labels over the bed and between the. type carrier: and the pres-: sure roller, rough adjustment means for positioning the pawl means with respect tothelabels. on the bed, and fine adjustment meanston additionally positioning: the pawlmeans with respect to thelabels on the bed.

Referring to the drawings in detail:

The improved printing; apparatus for labels: formed: in a strip. includes a framelvhaving an upright wall2 and a. vertical column 3'. The; frame 1 supports a bed- 4 extending; outwardly from the wall.2. The: printing ape paratusiis, normally enclosed inwa case 5, asshown in FigureII. Labels ;.in: a strip. 6; arefed. into a: receiving mouth. 7- of' the printing; apparatus; advanced in steps over the bed, 4; and, after.- being, printed and severed from therstrip, held in axholderv and knife guardi8 so that an; operator may readilytransfer the label to a: printing weighing scale for a second; printing operation. The markingindicating: the typevofx food to be packaged. is printed: by the labelprinting apparatus; and the markings indicating weight; cost perrpound, and. total cost are printed-by= thev weighing: scale.

'Ehe labels in; theustrip, 6: are guided::over the bed; 4 by means.of-pawls=9 to feed between a? type carrier 10 carried, by theframe .1 and. at cooperating pressure roller 11, also carried by theframer. 'lslietypeacarrier 10; as specifically shown; includes. aprinting: plate holder 12 removably holding a .printingplate 13: The typecarrier. 10; may be a conventionalimpression roller carrying individual pieces of typein. grooves. However, it is difiicult-to rapidly locate: theiindividual pieces oftype in the grooves "of conventional impressionrollers;

The printing plateholder. 1 2' has flat and substantially parallel sides, a rounded top, and aglongitndinally-extend ing opening for attaching the holder to a drive shaft 14. The drive shaft 14 constitutes the basic drivemeans for the device. The printing plate hold'enlz canibe slid backwand forth onthe drive shaft 14 by loosening" an ordinary lock-screw (not shown) which-retains the holder 12: on the drive shaft-14 This adjustment enables one to position the printing plate holderlZfltransverse to the path' ofr'movement of the labels overthe bed 4 s0that' the printed matter appears in its proper place on the labels; The printing plate holder l2-'carries a pair ofresilient tension plates 15 for removably holding the printing plate: 1 3? on the rounded? top of the: holder.

The printing plate 13' comprises a curved printing ele ment having an. embossed raised portion 16- including indicia. to be sprinted on labels and is: provided with a fixed handl'e 1 7. Thew'handle 17in addition to providing a convenient grasping means performs the function of locating the printing plate in the holder 12; i.e-., the printing plate is inserted in theholderunderneath the tensionplates- 15 until the end of; the handle nearest the raised" portion 16 contacts the holder, and also prevents the printing plate from being inserted backwarddn; the holder. When adilferent groupofjlabels is. to be printed; the printing plate 13"is slipped from its positionandianr other quickly slid. into, its; place.

The drive. shaft, 141 to, which the printing .plate holder 12 is attached-ishand or motor. rotated.infianged-bean ings 18 set in the. frame l as shown inseetion, in.-Figur e IV Thedrive shaft 14 is held-inproper position .withjn the bearings, 18fby meanslof a collar 19 fixed to the shaft by a screw Zllandby meansof 'acam assembly zlfixedrto the .shaftby. a..screw,22, which. cam assembly. includes;.a pawl-actuating cam 23 and a knife-driving cam 24. The

knife-driving cam 24 has a recessed portion 25 for clearance.

The pressure roller 11 is supported beneath the type carrier and is carried by an eccentric shaft 26 (Figure IV). ,The shaft 26 extends through the frame 1 and is locked in place and kept from turning by means of a locking pin 27 threaded through the frame and accessible for turning [from a control panel 28. The shaft 26 is turned, when the locking pin 27 is loosened, by up or down movement of an adjusting pin 29 threaded into a collar 30 fixed onto an end of the shaft 26. The free end of the adjusting pin 29 is also accessible from the control panel 28. When the shaft 26 is turned by movement of the adjusting pin 29, the eccentric action of the shaft 26 moves the pressure roller 11 towardor away from the type carrier 10 so that the proper printing pressure can be obtained. The pressure roller 11 is made of a flexible outer section 31 mounted on a thin, rigid, concentric, metallic liner 32. A pair of bushings 33 are press-fitted within the liner 32 and turn on the shaft 26. A snap ring 34 helps to hold the shaft 26 in proper position and a second snap ring 35 holds the pressure roller 11 in place on the shaft. When the pressure roller 11 is properly positioned by movement of the adjusting pin 29 in relation to the type carrier 10, the type carrier friction drives the pressure roller 11.

An ink roll 36 is rotatably mounted between a nonadjustable leg 37 and an adjustable leg 38 of an ink roll suspension member 39 rockingly mounted on a pin 40 fixed to the upper part of the column 3, as best shown in Figure V. The axis of the ink roll 36 must be parallel to the axis of the type carrier 10 for uniform application of ink to the printing plate 13. Means for adjusting the parallelism between the axis of the ink roll 36 and the axis of the type carrier 10 include the leg 38 adjustably fixed tov the suspension member 39. The leg 38 has an opening 41 loosely smrounding the pin 40 and is adjustably attached to the suspension member 39 by means of a screw 42 extending through an oversize opening in the leg 38 so that, when the screw 42 is loosened, the leg 38 can be rocked about the axis of the pin 40 relative to the non-adjustable leg 37. A knurled stopper 43 is removed from the ink roll 36 when the roll is to be filled with ink.

Rough adjustment means for swinging the ink roll 36 toward and away from the type carrier 10 include a bracket 44 adjustably mounted on the column 3. A leg 45 of the bracket 44 has an opening loosely surrounding the pin 40 and an arm 46 of the bracket 44 is interconnected to an adjacent arm 47 of the suspension member 39 by means of an adjusting knob 48 threaded into the arm 47 of the suspension member. A coil 49 surrounding that part of the adjusting knob 48 between the arm 46 of the bracket 44 and the arm 47 of the suspension member 39 urges the arms 46 and 47 apart. The bracket 44 is attached to the column 3 by means of a thumb screw 50 extending through an oversize opening in the bracket and threaded into the column 3. When the thumb screw 50 is loosened, the bracket 44 can be rocked about the axis of the pin 40 to an extent limited by the size of the oversize opening in the bracket through which the thumb screw 50 extends. The rocking of the bracket 44 about the axis of the pin 40 rocks in turn the suspension member 39 interconnected to the bracket about the axis of the pin 40 to swing the ink roll 36 carried by the suspension member 39 toward and away from the type carrier 10. 7

The foregoing described rough adjustment approximate- 1y locates the ink roll 36 in a position to cooperate proper- 1y with the type carrier 10. However,.it is necessary to additionally adjust the ink roll 36 so that not too much or not .too little ink will be spread upon the printing plate 13. After the rough adjustment of the ink roll 36 is effected, a fine adjustment for swinging the ink roll additionally toward and away from the type carrier 10 4 is made by turning the adjusting knob 48. When the adjusting knob 48 is turned, the rockingly mounted ink roll suspension member 39 is swung in an are as indicated by the double ended arrow shown in Figure VI, thereby swinging the ink roll 36 carried by the suspension member 39 toward or away from the type carrier 10. When the ink roll 36 is operatively positioned, the type carrier 10 friction drives the ink roll.

The several operating components of the device, such as the type carrier 10 and the pawls 9, are coordinated by means of the pawl-actuating cam 23 carried on the drive shaft 14 and rotated with the type carrier 10. The cam 23 cooperates with a cam follower 51 pivoted on the shaft 26 (Figure IV).' The end of the cam follower 51 remote from the cam 23 is coupled with a tie bar 52 which in turn is coupled with a drive link 53 (Figure III) that actuates the pawls 9.

The labels to be printed are fed into the receiving mouth 7 between a fixed guide 54 attached tothe bed 4 and a movable guide 55 adjustable overthe bed to ac commodate various widths of labels. The movable guide 55 includes a pair of spaced apart bars 56 between which 7 the edge of the bed 4 is inserted. A pair of lock screws 57 fixes the movable guide 55 in place on the bed 4. The movable guide 55 carries the receiving mouth 7 which includes a pair of curved sheets 58 rigidly attached to the movable guide 55 and is removable as a unit assembly.

Since the printing apparatus is often used in a position such that the bed 4 is vertical to present printed and severed labels, it is necessary that thelabels be snugly held on the bed 4 as they pass through the apparatus so that the labels are completely coordinated with the several operating components. .A pair of wire-like, flexible rods 59 is provided to hold the labels on the .bed 4. The rods 59, the ends of which are bent up approximately 45", are attached to the guides 54 and 55 by means of fixed brackets 60 and are adjustably spaced from the bed by means of pivot members 61, one of which is shown in Figure I, pivotally attached one to each guide. .The rods 59 stretch between the fixed brackets 60 and the pivot members 61 so that the turning of the pivot members adjustably lifts the rods 59 from the surface of the bed 4.

When the labels are advanced over the bed 4 by the pawls 9, the labels are exactly located to cooperate with the type carrier 10 and a label cutter. To prevent backward movement of the labels, a hold-down finger 62 is used and makes constant, angular and dragging contact with the labels. The hold-down finger is pivotally mounted on a bracket 63 riveted to one of the curved sheets 58. A spring 64 having an end loosely held in a hole in the bracket 63 has its other end looped over the holddown finger 62 and urges the finger against the labels.

Means actuated by the rotation of the type carrier 10 for feeding successive labels through the apparatus are provided and include a slide arm 65 guided in a'trackway 66 on the bed 4 extending parallel to the path ,of movement of the labels. The trackway is formed by the fixed guide 54 and a member 67 spaced apart from the fixed guide. The member 67 is also spaced apart from the frame 1 and is held in place by means of several screws 68. When the slide arm 65 is actuated, a runner 69 (Figures III and VIII) on the slide arm slides upon the top of the bed 4 and a pin 70 slides underneaththe edge of the member 67 to prevent the slide arm from being lifted out of the trackway 66. It is necessary that the slide arm 65 be accurately guided in a direction parallel to the path of movement of the labels so that the pawls 9 driven by the slide arm 65 always coincide with holes in the strip of labels to advance the labels over the bed. The slide arm 65 has a slot 71 within which a pawl carrying cross bar 72 is adjustably and slidably mounted, which cross bar extends in a direction generally transverse to the path of movement of the labels over the bed 4. A pair of hanger brackets 73 are attached to the cross bar 72 by means of screws 74 and carry the assume pawls 9 which make constant angular and dragging contact with the labels, which pawls are urged toward the bed 4 by means of pawl tension coils 75- attached between the hanger brackets 73 and the pawls 9. The hanger brackets 73 are slidable' on the cross bar 72, when the screws 74 are loosened, to adjust the pawls 9 in accommodating various Widths of tickets. I j I Rough adjustment means are provided for positioning the pawls 9 with respect to the labels on the bed' so that the pawls approximately coincide with holes in the labels to advance the labels over the bed. The rough adjustment means includesthe pawl' carrying cross bar 72 having a shoulder 76 near one of its ends and a threaded extension 77 protruding from the shoulder 76 through the slot 71 in the slide arm 65. An adjustment bar block 78 threaded on the extension 77 of the cross bar draws the shoulder 76 of the cross bar against the inner side of the slide arm, but allows the cross bar to slide back and forth freely within the slot 71 of the slide arm. A lock nut 79 prevents the cross bar 72 from turning within the adjustment bar block. An adjustment bar 80 extends generally parallel to the path of movement of the labels over the bed and has its one end adjustably fixed in the adjustment bar block 78 and its other end adjustably mounted on a leg 81 of the slide arm 65. A screw 82 fixes the end of the adjustment bar 80 and the adjustment bar block 78 together. When the screw 82 is loosened, the adjustment bar block 78 can be slid back and forth on the adjustment bar 80 positioning the cross bar 72 within the slot 71 of the slide arm 65 so that the pawls 9 carried by the cross bar approximately coincide with holes in the labels.

Fine adjustment means for additionally positioning the pawls 9 with respect to the labels on the bed includes the adjustment bar 80. When the printing apparatus is enclosed within its case 5 as shown in Figure II, it is convenient to additionally and precisely position the pawls 9 by turning a Vernier nut 83 threaded on the end of the adjustment bar 80 remote from the adjustment bar block 78. A coil 84 surrounding the adjustment bar 80, is compressed between a face of the leg 81 of the slide arm 65 and a coil stop 85 threaded on the adjustment bar and urges the adjustment bar away from the Vernier nut 83. Movement of the adjustment bar 80 relative to the slide arm 65 adjustably positions the pawl carrying cross bar 72 within the slot 71 of the slide arm.

Means for driving the slide arm 65 are provided and include the drive link 53 connected to the slide arm by a shoulder screw 86 (Figure III). Rotation of the pawl-actuating cam 23 pivots its follower 51 about the shaft 26 and pulls the drive link 53 toward the follower 51. When the follower 51 is on the low part of the pawlactuating cam 23, an ordinary spring (not shown) stretched between the frame 1 and the drive link 53 urges the drive link away from the follower 51 to retract the pawls 9 after they have advanced a label over the bed 4. In order to prevent misalignment of the drive link 53 and to prevent sidewise play in the drive system for the means for feeding the labels over the bed 4, an extension 87 of the trackway 66 is used to positively guide the drive link 53. One side of the extension 87 of the trackway 66 is formed by a plate or second member 88 similar to the member 67 and rigidly attached to the frame 1 by secrews 89, one of which is shown. The plate 88 is spaced apart from the fixed guide 54 which forms the other side of the extension 87 of the trackway 66. The runner 69 on the slide arm 65 fits between the side of the extension 87 of the trackway formed by the fixed guide 54 and the drive link 53, which runner 69 slides back and forth against the fixed guide 54. The drive link 53 slides back and forth against the plate 88. The runner 69 and the drive link 53 make a snug sliding fit in the extension 87 of the trackway and are postitively guided without sidewise play.

As the labels are printed, provision is made in meter-m of a cutter having a fixed shear blade 90' and a knife 91 pivotally connected to the shear blade to sever e'aeh label for removal by an operator for attachment to the goods for which it' is intened. The cutter is positioned adjacent the type holder 10 and the pressure roller 11 and is carried by the frame 1. The knife 91 is automatically actuated at the completion of each cyele etthe printer to sever a printedlabel from the strip 6 of labels which passes between the printing plate 13 and the pressure roller 11- and underneath the knife 91. This action is accomplished by a drive including the knifedriving cam 24, a pivotally mounted bellcrank 92pivoted at 9310 the fra'mell for rotation about an axis generally parallel to the cutting edge of the shear blade 90; and a link 94 coupling the bell crank 92 and a flattened end portion of the knife for moving the blade of the knife past the cutting edge of the shear blade 90*. The bell crank 92 includes a cam follower wheel 95 adapted to contact the periphery of the knife-driving cam 24.

Various modifications may be made in specific details of construction without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having described the invention, I claim:

1. In rotary printing apparatus for labels, in combination, a frame, a pin fixed to the frame, an ink roll suspension member rockingly mounted on the pin, a bracket that also is rockingly mounted on the pin and that is adjustably fixed to the frame for rocking the suspension member about the axis of the pin, and connecting means joining the bracket and the suspension member and functioning to additionally rock the suspension member about the axis of the pin.

2. In rotary printing apparatus for labels, in combination, a frame, a pin fixed to the frame, an ink roll suspension member that is rockingly mounted on the pin and that includes a pair of legs which are relatively positionable, an ink roll mounted for rotation between the legs, a bracket adjustably fixed to the frame for rocking the suspension member about the axis of the pin, and resiliently biased connecting means joining the bracket and the suspension member and functioning to additionally rock the suspension member about the axis of the pin.

3. Rotary printing apparatus for labels comprising a frame, a bed mounted on the frame for supporting a strip of labels to be printed, a rotary printing member mounted for rotation on the frame, a pressure roller mounted for rotation on the frame and cooperating with the printing member, a pin fixed to the frame, an ink roll suspension member rockingly mounted on the pin, an ink roll mounted for rotation on the suspension member and cooperating with the printing member, a bracket that also is rockingly mounted on the pin and that is: adjustably fixed to the frame for rocking the suspension member about the axis of the pin to swing the ink roll toward and away from the printing member, and connecting means joining the bracket and the suspension member and functioning to additionally rock the suspension member about the axis of the pin for additionally swinging the ink roll toward and away from the printing member.

4. Rotary printing apparatus for labels comprising a frame, a bed mounted on the frame for supporting a strip of labels to be printed, a rotary printing member mounted for rotation on the frame, a. pressure roller mounted for rotation on the frame and cooperating with the printing member, a pin fixed to the frame, an ink roll suspension member that is rockingly mounted on the pin and that includes a pair of legs which are relatively positionable, an ink roll mounted for rotation between the legs and cooperating with the printing member, the relatively positionable legs functioning to adjust the parallelism between the axis of the ink roll and the axis of the printing member, a bracket adjustably fixed to the frame for rocking the suspension member about the axis "7 of the pin to swing the ink roll :toward and away from the printing member, and push-pull connecting means joining the bracket and the suspension member and functioning to additionally rock the suspension member about the axis ofthe pin for additionally swinging the ink roll toward and away from the printing member.

5. Rotary printing apparatus for labels comprising a frame, a bed mounted on the frame for supporting a strip of labels to be printed, a rotary printing member mounted for rotation on the frame, a pin fixed to the frame, an ink roll suspension member rockingly mounted on the pin, an ink roll mounted for rotation on the suspension member and cooperating with the printing member, rough adjustment means for swinging the ink roll about the axis of the pin toward and away from the printing member, fine adjustment means for additionally swinging the ink roll about the axis of the pin toward and away from the printing member, and means independcut of the rough and fine adjustment means for adjusting the parallelism between the axis'of the ink roll and the printing member.

References Cited in the file of-this patent V UNITED STATES PATENTS 363,327 Goss May 17, 1887 1,139,710 Oeumpaugh May 8, 1915 1,470,194 Robinson Oct. 9, 1923 1,497,766 Balkwill June 17, 1924 1,750,357 Ramdor Mar. 11, 1930 2,051,312 Morgan Aug. 18, 1936 2,483,227 Owen Sept. 27, 1949 2,586,563 Rieger Feb. 19, 1952 2,638,038 Marsh et a1 May 12, 1953 2,653,539 Halley Sept. 29, 1953 Briggs Nov. 23, 1954 

